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  • P-ISSN 2586-2995
  • E-ISSN 2586-4130
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KDI Journal of Economic Policy. Vol. 48, No. 3, August 2026, pp. 25-49

https://doi.org/10.23895/kdijep.2026.48.3.25

× KDI Open Access is a program of fully open access journals to facilitate the widest possible dissemination of high-quality research. All research articles published in KDI JEP are immediately, permanently and freely available online for everyone to read, download and share in terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effects of the Basic Pension Reform on Consumption and Labor Supply of the Elderly

MINSOO CHO; HYELIM SON

Author & Article History

Manuscript received 07 January 2026; revision received 12 January 2026; accepted 02 June 2026.

Abstract

This study examines the effects of South Korea’s Basic Pension reform on the consumption and labor supply of the elderly. Using data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS) spanning the years 2009 to 2018, and by applying the difference-in-differences methodology, we find that the increase in pension benefits has had a small positive effect on household consumption but no significant impact on overall employment. However, we observe a decline in full-time employment and total work hours among the elderly. Additionally, a triple-difference analysis shows that the labor supply reduction is concentrated among low-educated elderly women, highlighting important heterogeneity in policy responses to the pension reform.

Keywords

Basic pension, Non-contributory pension, Consumption, Labor supply, Elderly

JEL Code

D12, H55, J14, J22

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